Podcast: Nats fire up the Hot Stove League

WASHINGTON – Now that the World Series is behind us, the Hot Stove League is firing up.

This week’s general managers’ meetings in California will be followed in early December by the Winter Meetings in Nashville. And the Nationals should be an active player trying to find a starting pitcher and some bullpen help.

Next week, the MLB baseball postseason awards will be handed out, starting Monday with Rookie of the Year. The Nationals’ Bryce Harper is one of three finalists for the award along with Diamondbacks left-hander Wade Miley and Reds third baseman Todd Frazier.

Nats skipper Davey Johnson is in the running for NL Manager of the Year along with the Reds’ Dusty Baker and the Giants’ Bruce Bochy.

Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez is in the running for the NL Cy Young Award after a 21-win season. The Mets’ R.A. Dickey and the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw are also in the running.

For this month’s podcast, I spoke with MLB.com Nationals beat reporter Bill Ladson about the possible hardware the Nats might bring home and some of the things that may be of interest during the Winter Meetings.